Neptune SKY LED

[oreo54]

Just modify a reefbreeders, sb reef, or viparspectra with 15 or whatever degree you calculate you need ...
Piece of cake really.

 

[Terence]

Piece of cake really.

Well, since you said so... OK

Why not just a ton of narrow beam single chip LEDs in a panel--i mean so many it turns into a wall of light just going straight down? Probably expensive, but so what.... i'd buy one!

First of all, 4' off the tank with a bunch of individual LED at 15 degrees and a 1' wide luminaire means you will have 50% of the light extended out 18" from the center of the aquarium. The other 50% will tail off from there outside the aquarium. This doesn't even take into account any weird shadowing that will happen, disco, etc.

I would love to see this done, but I think for a non-canopy application it is a pipe dream to expect intensity and minimal spillage that far up from the tank. But, go for it!

 

[Jon's Reef]

Why not just a ton of narrow beam single chip LEDs in a panel--i mean so many it turns into a wall of light just going straight down? Probably expensive, but so what.... i'd buy one!

Wouldn't that be similar to the Orphek Atlantik concept?

 

[oreo54]

15 degrees @ 4' gives a spot size of 12.64"
FWHM
Anything past that is not losing that much power
Most lenses are poor at giving a decent spread so most of the light is in that tighter area.:

No diodes inside the panel will spill past the above circles.
Black "diodes" are 1"
Squares are diode placement for same area @ 8'
You would need "Kessil like" chips to populate the single linear strip and get decent power.
Gets more complicated w/ the bigger cob style and usually larger lenses..
Brooke reflectors are 1.77" diameter but will accommodate a .7" "COB"
You could put 11 COB's in a row.

https://www.ledil.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/BROOKE-GenII_PR_web.pdf

Power distribution is related to focus.
A 1w led can give you 100par at twelve inches if focused to a spot size of 1" (just throwing in fake numbers to give one an idea).
Of course it needs to be tested w/ the optics one chooses since most are pretty sloppy at the tails..

Yes you will spill 10% but most do anyways..

So go 10 degrees..

Lens face (radiating surface) is .86"

Except for the likes (there are others) of the Orphek Amazonia nobody designs for 4'
Teeny market .

 

[ReefRxSWFL]

One other thing to add. We have people testing adding the smallest of Kessil along with the SKY to get more of the shimmer they may desire. This is likely a much easier "hybrid" approach than trying to use single point lights and using T5 to get the even coverage needed on a tank. Expect to see more of this approach very soon on tanks out there with the SKY.

Just think it would have been a good idea from the rip to have a group of a single LED color that didn't pass through the diffuser to get some shimmer under the lights. That way, you don't need to Frankenstein lighting together. You built a 90% light. How much harder would the last 10% be to be the first company to put out the first light with no compromises. I think its a nice light thats worthy to compare to some of the other premium lights on the market.

 

[ReefRxSWFL]

Wouldn't that be similar to the Orphek Atlantik concept?

That is the Orphek

 

[ReefRxSWFL]

Seems you can't win either way, I've seen people moan that certain lights have too much shimmer or even just shimmer in general then others in the camp of not enough shimmer. Funny how us humans are so vocal when it's something we do not like but tend to be less so when we are happy with something.

Many lights can turn down the shimmer, but if you don't have it, you can't turn it up

 

[ReefRxSWFL]

Well, looks like Neptune has a challenge ahead of it... I am sure you are "can do--nothing impossible type person and company..."!

Don't get me wrong, i like the Sky. But it's not really truely revolutionary or innovative; rather, it just does what LED's were supposed to from the get go--provide as good of light a T5's in a sleek, simpler, package...

If Neptune could reach the holy grail as you say--and create a panel light that can be mounted in the ceiling--then you'd truly be surpassing the competition! (And, FYI, yes spillage of light is bad if it impacts viewability--but i could careless about wasted energy or being "efficient" (there is nothing efficient about a reef tank--they use a lot of energy no matter what and a bit more is of little consequence at all)).

Why not just a ton of narrow beam single chip LEDs in a panel--i mean so many it turns into a wall of light just going straight down? Probably expensive, but so what.... i'd buy one!

Now that kessil has that super narrow reflector, I may try one 360 per foot and see how high above the tank i can hang em. Because you can go even further above the tank with that reflector than you can go with orpheks.

 

[ReefRxSWFL]

Definitely an option it seems looking at the website. I have considered just going pure Kessil 500's/360's, but as Terrance politely pointed out, the shimmer would be extreme unless, maybe, i had a lot of them.

So more looking for a panel light to mix in with the Kessil 500's/360's, which dull the shimmer while adding coverage.

I guess i could just use a ton of kessil 500's/360's or Orpheks with narrow reflectors. I have a few kessil 360x's too and will test their par at 30 plus inches with narrow reflectors. A herd of those may be the ticket, supply the par in total with less shimmer since so many of them.

The last factor, though, is that i am pretty partial to T5's--used them since the 2000's... They just work, i think are better than LEDs of any kind, and i like the look a lot.

Skys appear to mimic T5's pretty well (with added pop and some shimmer) from what i can tell--so that is what is attracting me to it--instead of pure spot light approach (kessil or orphic amazonains)

You can tone down the shimmer in 2 ways. One light per foot, and or turn the color towards blue in til you get shimmer you are happy with.

 

[Mywifeisgunnakillme]

You can tone down the shimmer in 2 ways. One light per foot, and or turn the color towards blue in til you get shimmer you are happy with.

Just a guess, but i bet twenty 360's, two rows of ten, over 72 inch long tank (for about $10k) with 35 degree narrow reflectors, would let you have lights ceiling mounted 30 plus inches above the tank with more par than even necessary and probably great shimmer..lol..

Or 4 skys at $3500 mounted lower at 10 or 12 inches... add some h80's for extra shimmer and call it $3700.00.

All and all, just the fact these things are doable and these are our great options among many--is way cool!!

 

[KarlsReef]

Many lights can turn down the shimmer, but if you don't have it, you can't turn it up

I think you missed my point there

 

[Terence]

Just think it would have been a good idea from the rip to have a group of a single LED color that didn't pass through the diffuser to get some shimmer under the lights. That way, you don't need to Frankenstein lighting together. You built a 90% light. How much harder would the last 10% be to be the first company to put out the first light with no compromises. I think its a nice light thats worthy to compare to some of the other premium lights on the market.

Many lights can turn down the shimmer, but if you don't have it, you can't turn it up

I love all your ideas guys. All great until you have to build for the tastes and wallets of the largest group of people - from color to shimmer to form factor to...

While Just about anything you all have stated is possible. Every single thing added, adds cost. Cost that has a significant multiple by the time it gets to you, the consumer.

The SKY was designed to meet the requirements and tastes of the largest number of people while still putting itself in the right price ballpark for premium reef tank lighting consideration.

In my opinion some other point source lighting options, while giving lots and lots of shimmer, actually NEED the Frankenstein approach to meet the needs of most reef aquarists.

For the SKY, for the small number of aquarists that want a lot more shimmer, maybe a slight frankenstein approach may what they will want to do. A "reverse-frankenstein" if you will

The week has started, my long weekend over. Much to do so I must leave you for a while

 

[ca1ore]

Seems you can't win either way, I've seen people moan that certain lights have too much shimmer or even just shimmer in general then others in the camp of not enough shimmer. Funny how us humans are so vocal when it's something we do not like but tend to be less so when we are happy with something.

Surely you're not suggesting that 'you cannot please all of the reefers all the time' LOL.

 

[VJV]

One other thing to add. We have people testing adding the smallest of Kessil along with the SKY to get more of the shimmer they may desire. This is likely a much easier "hybrid" approach than trying to use single point lights and using T5 to get the even coverage needed on a tank. Expect to see more of this approach very soon on tanks out there with the SKY.

THIS ! Currently looking to change to a 60x30x30 225 gallon and will use 2 SKYs with an A160 in between just to provide some shimmer. To me the shimmer from a single Kessil without excessive surface agitation is by for the most realistic. For every additional light you are doubling the caustic lines making it (to my eyes) an epilepsy inducive light show. So I am guessing a small Kessil sandwiched between two SKYs will be awesome. Now just have to wait for the SKY to be available in Europe...

 

[Coolcasino]

Will there be a smaller Sky? Like the AI 26HD?

 

[OceanDiver]

A few questions:

Do any NSI peeps have close up pictures of the build quality? I heard the main piece has like a rubbery finish?

What color settings is everyone using (one of the templates or custom)?

Does anyone have the "Shimz" accessory for adjusting the amount of shimmer?

Any pics with the SKY combined with a second source ( pic with and without the supplement, ex. 2 Sky with an a360x in the middle, or SKY with RB or Orphek bars)

Is there a sell/ ship date?

@randyBRS Where is that analysis video!

PM I’ll take some pictures

 

[KarlsReef]

Will there be a smaller Sky? Like the AI 26HD?

That is a really good question, I think there is a market

 

[OceanDiver]

I have a reefer 525xl that is mixed but heading towards SPS dominant. The tank is almost 2 years old. I started with two G4 XR30 Pro, added a third because I got deal when the G5’s came out, then upgraded to a T5 hybrid.

I was happy and the corals were growing.

Then I may or may not have been adding to the NSI team. (I guess I am one of the average user Terrance mentions)

I replaced all of my lighting with two SKYs mounted roughly 11” above the water‘s surface. @Terrance and I went back and forth on coverage because I figured I needed three SKYs. He finally convinced me and for a 5ft tank two SKYs will easily provide the coverage you need. I can also state that after switching to the SKYs my SPS grow rate increased as did my ALK/CAL dosing increased by 10-15%.

Here are some pictures.

I did recently play reef god and thought I would mess with the red field ratio and I lost. But the tank is recovering and parameters are back to my pre GOD MODE mistake. Never again mess with red field ratio never again.

I would also like to add that I am an ocean engineer and US Navy diver and due to my work, I am gone a lot and Neptune has been a savior for my reef tank and my marriage - LOL. That all said it takes a lot of trust to just take off all of your existing lights and just throw on some untested newly designed lights. I was anxious to say the least. But the other NSI folks and particularly the folks at Neptune were always responsive and there to help.

I hope this is useful coming from an “average user”

 

[Coolcasino]

That is a really good question, I think there is a market

I believe there is as well. Especially for us braced tanks. I don't have a lot of SPS. Most of my corals are doing fine with the three 26 HD that I have. I would love to be able to have the ability to control the lights with all of my other Neptune gadgets. I just don't want to put three of these lights on my tank. Three smaller ones would be perfect. Right now that's the only thing that would stop me from switching over cuz I'd love the controllability. I don't really like iota. The lights loose connection too easily for some reason so I control the hydras with the my AI app. It would be sweet to also be able to control the lights with my Neptune.. maybe also Neptune skimmer down the line.

 

[OceanDiver]

I have a reefer 525xl that is mixed but heading towards SPS dominant. The tank is almost 2 years old. I started with two G4 XR30 Pro, added a third because I got deal when the G5’s came out, then upgraded to a T5 hybrid.

I was happy and the corals were growing.

Then I may or may not have been adding to the NSI team. (I guess I am one of the average user Terrance mentions)

I replaced all of my lighting with two SKYs mounted roughly 11” above the water‘s surface. @Terrance and I went back and forth on coverage because I figured I needed three SKYs. He finally convinced me and for a 5ft tank two SKYs will easily provide the coverage you need. I can also state that after switching to the SKYs my SPS grow rate increased as did my ALK/CAL dosing increased by 10-15%.

Here are some pictures.

I did recently play reef god and thought I would mess with the red field ratio and I lost. But the tank is recovering and parameters are back to my pre GOD MODE mistake. Never again mess with red field ratio never again.

I would also like to add that I am an ocean engineer and US Navy diver and due to my work, I am gone a lot and Neptune has been a savior for my reef tank and my marriage - LOL. That all said it takes a lot of trust to just take off all of your existing lights and just throw on some untested newly designed lights. I was anxious to say the least. But the other NSI folks and particularly the folks at Neptune were always responsive and there to help.

I hope this is useful coming from an “average user”

Just took this